Backyard Chicken Coop & DIY

12/17/2025

6.25 gallon waterer, 24 ft heat tape for water pipes rated -40F and a bunch of duct tape. If this don't keep the chickens water from freezing...I give up!...

12/17/2025

12/17/2025

What kind of sand should I use in my coop and run. Also I have a chicken that was laying under her feeder in her run very lethargic ot is cold here I brought her in she had little black bugs all over her none around vent or under wings checked all my other chickens they are fine no bugs around vent under wings or anywhere. I’m very confused as to what could be going on

12/17/2025

Now what?? That certainly isn’t baby chicks.. I saw a couple cats laying in there this morning and thought nothing of it. The cats and chickens are always in the coop together. But then I saw a chicken in there laying an egg she got out and she not only was laying and egg but sitting on what she thought was babies. lol life is funny.
I have chickens that lay eggs in the cat house. But this is a first for kittens in the chicken coop.

12/17/2025

We lost our best boy tonight. We are beyond heartbroken. Curio was killed doing the job that he loved ever so much- Protecting his hens. Not a single hen was harmed, although they do seem a bit traumatized. He was THE BEST and kindest rooster and our first rooster ever. He will be so missed. As for the owl, she left on an empty stomach and some battle scars. Thank you for taking such great care of these girls for the past year, Curio. This is your end of watch, Handsome. We've got it from here.
Here's to hoping the other two bonehead roosters in training in that coop step up. 🥂 They have big shoes to fill.
Please give your good boys some extra treats for us.

12/17/2025

This is Wanda the Wanderer. On Friday she hitched a ride on the hay trailer and rode about 3 miles down the road between the stacks. I then spent a large portion of Saturday chasing her around said property to bring her home. This picture is taken from today when Wanda yet again attempted another grand escape. Dammit Wanda just stay home.
Side note: She likes to ride in the Polaris.

12/17/2025

My rabbits busted out there chickens now.

12/17/2025

How many feed their chickens bread and cracked corn despite what farmer Google 😂 says..? We have had chickens for over 30 years.. no one died so far from eating bread or cracked corn. We get plenty of eggs. Our oldest hen lived until she was 15 we have one still alive at 13.. they eat bread, corn, table scraps and free range daily. Chicken keeping is fun! I love them. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

12/17/2025

My coop isn’t insulated. I have most of the cracks covered with ply wood and the run is covered in pvc tarps. It’s hitting 19* what else could I do to insure the warmth?

12/17/2025

We have had a mobile coop the past 4 years and are in process of building a stationary coop and run. I am looking for opinions on what we should do inside for the roosting bars/ramps/etc. The coop is about 7’ x 8’. We currently have 11 chickens but plan to get more once the coop is complete. I tried using chat gpt and all it did was put two bars across the entire coop. Thank you!
*we still need to add wire to the top*
*we are in TN, winter temps are mild*

12/17/2025

So my girlfriend asked if we could get chickens and if i would build her a coop. She’s had chickens most of her life. I’ve seen so many doing research, i told her it cant be an eye sore. This is what i came up with. I still have to put a roof on the run, it got too cold before i could finish it , but it turned out pretty good

12/17/2025

Okay Nutmeg, we get it, you're built different
(Had to have a chat with her about what FROSTBITE is. She wasn't interested.)